We were lucky to catch up with Johnny Fentry Jr recently and have shared our conversation below.
Johnny, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?
As of 2025, yes. I am able to earn a full-time living from my creative work. Not just camera work though, I work on a lot of independently contracted production events from setting up drapery and lighting for high end weddings (specifically with Atmosphere Events Group in Chicago) and also film high production events across the country for a variety of companies. So it depends on what one would consider “creative” work. I myself would consider all of this in the creative field even though it’s not always necessarily “pretty cinematic” creative work 24/7. No, it was not like this from day one. I’ve expanded my skillset to a broader range of options which is how I was able to transition into full time. 2020 was a wake up call for me as it was for many others. It was the first time I had zero income coming in for months. I didn’t know what to do or what the future held – at least for the first few months. Luckily, I still had peeps call me for well paid video work within the summer of the pandemic so it didn’t necessarily feel like I was “hopeless” to an extent. Having little to no bills and living with my parents made me feel like the little money I was making was enough at the time. As I got older with more responsibilities and yearning for my own stuff like my own car, my own place, etc, it made me realize I wasn’t making nothing really and ultimately struggling to pay my bills on time due to purchasing things like that. There was a time when there was no work and it was the middle of winter here in Chicago and I had to drive for Uber, Doordash, and Instacart full time to pay all of my bills. At first, it felt humiliating. I had a taste of success between 2017-2019. From shooting my first major short film, premiering it to a sold out crowd, and even having some of my work featured in big magazines like PopSugar Magazine and Good Morning America. I even earned a Disney credit a couple years later. I had a reality check and it for sure humbled me. But, one day I shifted my mindset and said if I have to do this, Im going to make sure I am doing my best while doing this and have a good time. I turned on my favorite songs and made sure I delivered everyone’s orders on time, kept a smile on my face, and even did small favors for my customers. I applied this to all my future jobs I came across and had to do. Sometimes you have to do what you have to do and it took me a while to grasp this concept but learned from this experience. This could’ve sped up the process, indeed. But, you live and you learn. If I have to do something, I’m going to make myself enjoy it or find enjoyment within it while I am there. I am there for a reason and if I wasn’t suppose to be there, I wouldn’t be there.
Johnny, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My full name is Johnny Fentry Jr. I’m originally from Evanston, Illinois on the Northside of Chicago and grew up in Bellwood, Illinois. I attended Proviso West High School in Hillside, Illinois from 2013-2016 and attended Flashpoint Chicago for film in 2016-2018. From the young age of 8, I was always into storytelling. My mom crafted together very detailed dollhouses with electricity and fully furnished bedrooms and living rooms. I used to take my action figures and used my imagination to create stories and lives with the figures I had revolving around the dollhouses. I also was into recording myself on cassette tapes my parents had. I was born in 1997 so I consider myself mainly a 2000s baby. Cassette tapes were definitely going or were out of style by the time I got a hold on them. But, I didn’t care. I spoke many, many stories onto those cassette tapes that were just me talking for minutes, maybe hours. I do wonder if my parents still have them or if they still work. I wrote my first script; which I didn’t know was a script at the time, around that age also and it was inspired by the popular video game which is also my personal favorite of all time “Super Smash Bros. Brawl”. I still have it and I dug it up not too long ago. I reread it and it sucks. But, what can you expect from an 8 year old? I may still revise it in the future and produce it for nostalgia purposes, who knows? My parents also bought me my first camera around this time as well and throughout high school, I’d make short films with my peers on the weekends and post them on Youtube. People in my class were enjoying my short films and stressed that I should pursue this as a career. I was shooting and editing all of my own material at the time and was unaware of the skillsets I was developing. I landed my first paid editing gig as an editor for Call Of Duty montages. At the time in the gaming world, everyone was playing Call Of Duty and were making their own clans. Then they would upload montages on youtube of their best clips and that’s what I got hired to do. Best $30-$50 a video I was making and proud also. I had my own clan as well too and that’s where the name “Krezzyy” came from. We all know how annoying it is to try a username that’s already taken and coming up with a name that nobody has. Well, one day I was able to solve this problem for me. I was in a match one on Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2011) and apparently did really well. I always have my mic turned on because I’ll admit – I was a trash talker – a heavy one too. But back to the main subject, A guy in the lobby said “Yo this man is crazy” and I responded saying “It’s too easy.” Then, I morphed both crazy and easy together to make “Krezzyy”. I replaced the “S” and changed the vowel in the E. So, it’s pronounced “Kr-e-zzyy”. But some people have said “Kr-eee-zzyy”. Which I’m fine with both. But, I personally say “Kr-e-zzyy.” After that, I never had an issue with finding a username ever again and the name “Krezzyy” just stuck. I ended up naming my production company “Krezzyy Studios” and a bunch of other endeavors that included “Krezzyy” somewhere on it. If I’m being completely transparent, I didn’t have a specific mission with Krezzyy Studios and where I wanted to take it. I didn’t have no direction and things were sort of just happening. One day I’ll be filming interview business based client then the next Im dancing in a Chance The Rapper music video. Next, Im premiering my short film and inviting my clients who weren’t even my target audience. Just very random endeavors that I thought were cool at the time. Im grateful for every opportunity! Don’t get me wrong, but my early career and success was very random and rather unstable. I was just taking on any gigs and opportunity that came my way and not necessarily thinking about my “brand.” I mean I have a polar bear as my logo for a video production company for crying out loud. What does that even mean?! Lol. I will get more into that. It took me to almost dying to actual know what I want out of my brand and the story I want to tell. I am a storyteller. I am a writer. I guess I started a production company because it seemed like the right thing to do. I had clientele and I needed to turn that into a business. However, at the end of year 2022, I was in an almost fatal car accident. My car did a full flip on me and I was knocked unconscious for at least 3 seconds. When I woke up, I was on the side of the expressway where there’s that patch of grass in between exits. The windows of my car were all shattered and my phone automatically called 911. 3 cars that were behind me got off the expressway and onto the exit where I was to check if I was okay. I immediately did push ups when I stepped out the car to make sure I was still all put together. My parents came immediately to pick me up at 1:50 AM Dec, 2, 2022. Two weeks later, I went to the doctor and I had zero injuries. He told me it was a miracle. After that, my entire perspective on life changed and I ended up writing one of the greatest stories I think I’ve written so far. I’ve turned this into my first book which is finally complete as of January 2025! Corresponding with the book, in 2020, I rediscovered my love for video games and animation which made me more immersed with deep storytelling. I want to create a world. This is where the Polar Bear logo comes in. Its my favorite animal and I live in a cold city. The Windy City if we’re being specific. Polar bears are known to live in cold climates. I can’t reveal much more though. You have to follow along on the journey to witness everything unfold! Overall, I want my fanbase to be immersed in a world where they feel happy and can escape for few hours wether its an event or movie. I look at artists such as Travis Scott and Billie Eilish as inspiration when it comes to stage presence and events as I look at Disney movies and Universal Studios also for their way to capture you into an environment so immersed where everything feels unreal. I do want to aim towards more light tone movies aimed for family as I want everyone to feel included. But, that’s not entirely up to me. That’s up to what my audience wants and craves. I will still do what I want and feel I should create. But, what I’ll be known for isn’t fully in my control. I only hope the right thing I want to be known for will pop off in due time.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
In school, we are told we need to do well to land a good paying job and overall be successful in life. Which is true, But, they don’t tell you that it is okay to make mistakes along the way. It’s okay to fail and try again multiple times. This is not talked about in school. But, it is the reality of life. I was trying my hardest to be perfect at my craft and be the most knowledgeable on my career and the ins and outs of it. Which is what I should be aiming for, naturally. However, there are pros and cons to this. The moment I, in a way, turned off my brain for a second and became more curious, asking more questions, and sort of portrayed more of the less intelligent person in the room, I began getting hired more frequently. I know it sounds odd. What I mean is I knew my work as far as my level of experience goes. But, I eventually wanted to level up to higher end projects and productions meaning landing more higher paid clients and jobs. I became more of a “what’s that?” person versus a “I know how to do this” person. You have to learn how to be a good employee to become a great boss. I feel psychologically people gravitate more towards people who they feel they can help. It makes them feel special and in return it keeps me hired. Overall, its a win win because I am still essentially growing and trying new things and they are getting the help they need. You don’t have to be a know it all or act like a super experienced master to excel in this industry. But, you do have to be willing learn. No matter how experienced you are, there is always room to learn more and this industry is constantly changing. Eventually, you will be offered a leadership position and naturally move up. But, it starts with patience, essentially.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
Every other night maybe – or every so often, I have this constant vision of me on stage somewhere. Wether its me accepting an award or even performing. Yes, I said it. Performing! I don’t know what I’ll be performing, but I see performing in my future. I see a huge crowd listening to what I have to say or made. I don’t know when it’ll happen. But it’s definitely something that keeps me going. There is an urge in me in wanting to find a way to stand out. I’ve been shooting videography and photography for years. But, If I’m being honest, it’s a saturated industry. A former client years ago told me that “Videographers grow on trees”. What he meant by this is videographers & photographers are easy to find and replaceable. At the time I did take it slightly personal. He didn’t mean it for me to take it personal. But, that was his perspective from an outside view. I took a step back and realized there is a videographer or aspiring photographer on every other Instagram page now. I’ve been quietly deviating from videography and slowly rebranding myself to more of an animated image and a storytelling aesthetic rather than just being another videographer out of a million. I also know I want to leave a positive impact where people my age, older, or even younger can look up to a new fictional character for inspiration that they can also share with their families for new generations down the line or even see themselves in them as well. I picture myself in a different Universe – an escape as you can say and I want the people who become fans of my work to experience this Universe as an escape to a happy place as well. This is one of my goals I have and it all starts with the launch of my book.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://krezzyystudios.com
- Instagram: @krezzyy.indigo
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/johnny-fentry.9
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnny-fentry-jr-a0a2b112b/
- Twitter: https://x.com/krezzyyverse
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Krezzyyverse
- Other: I have multiple channels on Youtube for different purposes.
One for video production work:
:https://www.youtube.com/@KreZBeatZOne for my storytelling (Linked above):
https://www.youtube.com/@KrezzyyverseAnd One for Gaming:
https://www.youtube.com/@KrezzyyGames
Image Credits
Photo #5 : 9:33 Production Short Film Set by Melaina Koulos
Photo #8: Groove National Dance Competition Training Week Season 2023